1. When must Uniformed Members/DoD civilian employees travel using U.S. certificated air carrier service?

Available U.S. certified air carriers must be used by Uniformed Members/DoD civilian employees for all commercial air transportation of persons/property when the U.S. Gov’t funds the air travel IAW 49 USC §40118, commonly referred to as the "Fly America Act", and GAO decision B-138942, 31 March 1981, with some exceptions. See JTR, par. 3525 respectively.

2. What is the Fly America Act?

The "Fly America Act" refers to the provisions enacted by section 5 of the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-624, Jan. 3, 1975), 49 U.S.C. App. 1517, as amended by section 21 of the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-192, Feb. 15, 1980). 94 Stat. 43, and mandates the use of U.S. certificated air carriers for federally funded international travel. The Fly America Act generally requires that all foreign air travel funded by Federal dollars be performed on U.S. certificated air carriers unless a reasonable exception is applied.

3. How do the various ‘Open Skies’ agreements with foreign nations affect the Fly America Act and Uniformed members/DoD civilian employees?

The various ‘Open Skies’ agreements allow certain foreign nations’ airlines the right to transport passengers and cargo on scheduled or charter flights for U. S. Gov’t procured transportation. These agreements do not apply to the DoD Uniformed Services, nor to DoD civilian employees unless their travel is funded by a non-DoD agency IAW that Agency’s/Service’s policy if a city-pair flight is not available for the scheduled official travel between the origin and destination. The agreement is not valid for travel funded by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department (DoD Uniformed Services and DoD civilian employees and other civilians traveling on DoD funds) per DoD policy. See Q10/A10 of this FAQ.
More ‘Open Skies’ agreements information are found at GSA website, http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191 and State Department website, http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tra/.

4. When is U.S. certificated air carrier service available?

U.S. certificated air carrier service is available if:

a. The carrier performs the required commercial air transportation, and

b. The service accomplishes the mission, even though:

(1) A comparable/different kind of service by a non-U.S. certificated air carrier costs less,

(2) Non-U.S. certificated air carrier service is preferred by the service/traveler,

(3) Non-U.S. certificated air carrier service is more convenient for the service/traveler, or

(4) The only U.S. certificated air carrier service available between points in the CONUS or non-foreign OCONUS location and foreign OCONUS points (49 USC §40102) requires boarding/leaving the carrier between midnight and 6 a.m., or travel spanning those hours (a brief non-work period not to exceed 24 hours may be authorized/approved, for "acclimatization rest" at destination as well as per diem during the rest period when the destination is other than the traveler's PDS) (56 Comp. Gen 629 (1977)). See JTR, par. 3525 respectively.

5. When is U.S. certificated air carrier service not available?

U.S. certificated air carrier service is not available if one of the following exceptions exists:

a. Foreign air carrier service is deemed a necessity when service by a U.S. certificated air carrier is available, but

(1) Cannot provide the air transportation needed;

(2) Will not accomplish the agency's mission;

(3) The agency determines that use of a foreign air carrier is necessary for medical reasons, including use of foreign air carrier service to reduce the number of connections and possible delays in the transportation of persons in need of medical treatment;

(4) Use of a foreign air carrier is required to avoid an unreasonable risk to the traveler's safety and is approved by the AO (e.g., terrorist threats). Written approval of foreign air carrier service use based on an unreasonable risk to the traveler's safety must be provided by the AO on a case by case basis. A travel advisory notice issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the Department of State must support an agency determination and approval of non-U.S. certificated (foreign flag) air carrier use based on a threat against a U.S. certificated air carrier. An agency determination and approval of use of a foreign air carrier based on a threat against Gov’t employees or other travelers must be supported by evidence of the threat(s) that form the basis of the determination and approval; or

(5) When a ticket in the authorized class of service on a U.S. certificated air carrier cannot be purchased, and a seat is available in the authorized class of service on a foreign air carrier.

b. The transportation is provided under a bilateral or multilateral air transportation agreement to which the United States Gov’t and the government of a foreign country are parties, and which the Department of Transportation has determined meets the Fly America Act requirements.

c. No U.S. certificated air carrier provides service on a particular leg of the route, in which case foreign air carrier service may be used, but only to or from the nearest interchange point on a usually traveled route to connect with U.S. certificated air carrier service; or

d. A U.S. certificated air carrier involuntarily reroutes a traveler's travel on a non-U.S. certificated air carrier; (if the traveler is given a choice as to substitute service, a U.S. certificated air carrier should be selected if it does not unduly delay the travel) (59 Comp. Gen. 223 (1980)).

f. Non-U.S. certificated air carrier service would be three hours or less, and U.S. certificated air carrier use would at least double en route travel time.

g. When the transportation cost is reimbursed in full by a third party, such as a foreign government, international agency, or other organization.

h. The total delay, including delay in travel initiation from a TDY point, in en route travel and additional time at the TDY station before the traveler can proceed with assigned duties, involves more than 48 hours per diem costs in excess of per diem that would be incurred if non-U.S. certificated service was used (56 Comp. Gen. 216 (1977)).

i. The only U.S. certificated air carrier service between foreign OCONUS points requires boarding/leaving the carrier between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., or travel spanning those hours, and a non-U.S. certificated carrier is available that does not require travel at those hours. The traveler may travel by non-U.S. certificated carrier to the nearest practicable interchange point on a usually traveled route to connect with a U.S. certificated air carrier. (56 Comp. Gen. 629 (1977)).

j. If a U.S. certificated air carrier offers nonstop or direct service (no aircraft change) from origin to destination, U.S. certificated air carrier service use is required unless such use would extend travel time, including delay at origin, by 24 or more hours.

k. If a U.S. certificated air carrier does not offer nonstop or direct service (no aircraft change) between origin and destination, use a U.S. certificated air carrier on every portion of the route where it provides service unless, when compared to using a foreign air carrier, such use would:

(1) Increase the number of aircraft changes the traveler must make outside of the U.S. by 2 or more changes.

(2) Extend the traveler's travel time by at least 6 or more hours.

(3) Require a connecting time of 4 hours or more at an overseas interchange point.

6. When is a traveler required to provide transportation non-availability documentation?

Transportation non-availability documentation is required when the AO determines a U.S. certificated air carrier is unavailable and authorizes/approves commercial air transportation on a non-U.S. certificated air carrier. Documentation explaining why U.S. certificated air carrier service is not available must be provided to the traveler. An endorsement on the travel order and/or Gov’t travel procurement document, made IAW Service regulations, is acceptable. The documentation should include the traveler’s name, non-U.S. certificated ship(s) or air carrier(s) used, flight identification no(s), origin, destination and en route points, date(s), justification, and authorizing/approving official’s title, organization and signature.

7. If a traveler has been authorized/approved to travel using non-U.S. certificated air carrier service and the only available accommodations are 'other than economy/coach' (e.g., First and Business), does the traveler still need authorization/approval to travel using other than economy/coach accommodations?

Yes. See JTR, par. 3525 to determine whose authority is required for Gov’t-funded ‘other than economy/coach’ transportation to be provided.

8. When using code share flights involving U.S. certificated air carriers and non-U.S. - certificated air carriers, what flight number must be used on the ticket?

When using code share flights (two or more airlines having flight numbers assigned to the same flight) involving U.S. certificated (flag) air carriers and non-U.S. certificated (foreign flag) air carriers, the airline symbol and flight number of the U.S. certificated air carrier must be used on the ticket to qualify as a U.S-certificated air carrier. If the flight number of the non-U.S. certificated air carrier is used on the ticket, the ticket is on a non-U.S. certificated air carrier and a non-availability of U.S. certificated air carrier document is needed.

9. Does the Fly America Act' mandate travel across the CONUS when traveling between two OCONUS locations?

No. The Fly America Act does not mandate travel across the CONUS when traveling between two OCONUS locations. For instance, travel from Europe may be routed in an easterly direction to Asia instead of west via CONUS. When it is determined that a U.S. certificated air carrier is/was not reasonably available for the most direct usually-traveled route between two OCONUS locations, use of a non-U.S. certificated air carrier may be authorized/approved (adopted from GSBCA 16632-RELO, 15 July 2005)).

10. What is the traveler's financial liability if a non-U.S. certificated (foreign) air carrier is improperly used?

There is no reimbursement (for any leg of the journey) for transportation cost when unauthorized/unapproved non-U.S. certificated air carrier service is used. If U.S. certificated air carrier service is available for an entire trip and the traveler uses a non-U.S. certificated air carrier for any part or the entire trip, the transportation cost on the non-U.S. certificated air carrier is not payable. See JTR, par. 3525.